'I Am a Fan of Nahid Islam': Asif Akbar at Launch of NCP's Sports Wing

Popular singer Asif Akbar has said he is a fan of Member of Parliament and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam. He made the remark while taking part in the launch ceremony of the NCP's sports wing, the 'National Sports Alliance', held on Monday evening (November 2) at the Krishibid Institution in the capital.

The National Sports Alliance formally launched that day with Nazmul Abedeen Fahim as convener and M Nazmul Islam as member secretary. NCP convener and opposition chief whip Md Nahid Islam, the party's senior joint member secretary Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and others also spoke at the event.

Asif Akbar said Hasnat Abdullah would receive blessings for a hundred years for speaking in parliament about the 'father's-blessing cricket board'.

Addressing the National Sports Alliance, he said that whichever political party works for the development of sports, he is ready to work with them in the interest of the country's future generations. He also called for national interest to be placed above party interest in the sporting arena.

At the event, Asif Akbar claimed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had once been at risk of a ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC). He said that at one stage of discussions with the ICC over the then BCB, the matter went to arbitration, and an ICC representative had warned of the possibility of banning Bangladesh. However, considering the interests of the country's cricket and its future generations, they took no further step.

Criticising the activities of the current BCB, Asif said the previous board had organised the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) within a month and a half of taking charge, yet uncertainty has now arisen over holding the BPL afresh. In his view, the current board lacks capability, and the BCB has been turned into a place for idle chat instead of being built as the centre of sports.

The singer also raised allegations over the formation of the BCB board of that time. He claimed the board was formed through political influence with the cooperation of the Indian cricket board and the then BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon, with ministers abusing their power and regional influence brought into play. He also alleged that 'some sheep and goats of the BNP' were with them.

The singer also expressed concern over the spread of juvenile gangs and drug addiction in the country. He said the shortage of playing fields, weak sports management, corruption in administration and partisan politicisation are pushing many young people into crime. Alongside action against juvenile gang members, he stressed creating sporting opportunities for them.

In his speech, Asif Akbar opposed partisan tail-ism in the sporting arena. He urged the National Sports Alliance to work independently for the development of sports rather than functioning as a front organisation of any political party.

Asif proposed that the National Sports Alliance organise its first tournament with members of juvenile gangs, saying there could be good players among them too. Similarly, he said, tournaments could be organised with young people returning after treatment at drug rehabilitation centres, which would give them a chance to return to normal life.

In Asif's view, the country's future generation is at risk from many directions. Sports should therefore not be seen merely as a means of entertainment, but considered one of the ways to keep young people away from drugs and crime.